The converts vs real Russians things plays into it too (though I'm not Russian and I'm all for union and I know a lot of convert priests who are).
Another thing that plays into it is the whole White Army Red Army stuff. Russians who grew up loathing the Russians in Russia.
"Another thing that plays into it is the whole White Army Red Army stuff. Russians who grew up loathing the Russians in Russia."
Funny thing about that. The Russians in our parish are ALL descendants of White Russian officers, every last one of them. And they all are excited about the reunion, which I understand is not the general experience. My suspicion is that because all the White Russians and nobility who moved here after the Revolution are now dead and the present ROCOR priest has been there for many years with his "different" ways, whatever hatred there was for Russians in Russia is now gone around here.